I was reversing in a car park the other day and I inched back a bit too far and bumped up against someone else’s car.
It was only a small scratch, but I’m pretty sure it was me. I felt very bad, and I’m worried the owner will be annoyed.
I couldn’t see anyone, so I left a note. Can I pay for it without claiming on my insurance? Anonymous
This is Money’s Freda Lewis-Stempel replies: Firstly, don’t beat yourself up about it – it happens to the best of us. At some point almost every driver will accidentally bump into another car by accident and because of this people tend to be pretty understanding in these situations.
When it comes to protocol you did the right thing in leaving your details. Even if it’s only a small bump it’s still an incident and you need to stop and exchange details before reporting it.
That’s definitely not something everyone will do though and there are many of us who have returned to our car to discover a scratch or small dent and no indication of how it got there – and certainly no apology or note.
If it’s only a small scratch like you said, the other person will likely get it repaired and send you the bill, or if it’s really very small they might tell you to not even bother.
So you know exactly whre you stand, we asked two insurance experts what’s vital to remember in these situations.
This is Money asks car insurance experts what steps you should follow if you accidentally scrape or bump someone’s car
What to do if you bump someone’s car
What should you do if you bump someone else’s car? Rhydian Jones, Confused.com car insurance expert, comments: ‘There are three simple things you should do after this happens:
1. Stop immediately: It’s your legal duty to stop if you’ve hit another car.
2. Leave your details: Write a note with your name, contact details, and vehicle registration. Place it securely on the other car.
3. Notify your insurer: Even if the damage seems minor, you must inform your insurance provider.’
Does any bump count as an incident by law?
If you do nudge another car, it can be tempting to shrug it off as probably nothing and drive away. But you should check whether it has caused a problem and if there has been any damage, then you need to wait for the owner or notify them.
Julie Daniels, motor insurance expert at Compare the Market, explains that any bump is an incident: ‘If you bump into a parked car, don’t leave the scene, even if it’s only a minor scrape.
‘Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act states that if you’re involved in an accident that causes damage to another vehicle – you must stop, or you’ll be committing an offence.’
Failing to report an incident can land you with a hefty fine of up to £5,000 and you could get five to 10 points on your licence.
What does the insurer need to know? When should you contact them?
This is Money’s reported that car insurance premiums dropped significantly over the course of 2024
Many people won’t tell their insurer about a minor scrape, fearing that insurance companies will push their costs up. This concern is justified but, technically, insurers will tell you that you must tell them about everything.
Daniels says: ‘It is important to call your insurance provider as soon as you can, even if you’re not planning to make a claim.
‘Give them the details, along with any photos and the contact details of any witnesses. Many insurers have a section in their policies that requires you to tell them about all and any incidents, even if you don’t make a claim.
‘If you fail to do this, your insurance could be declared invalid if you make a claim.’
Jones doubles down on this: ‘Even if the other drivers don’t want to make a claim, you should always tell your insurance company if you bump a car. That’s even if you don’t plan to make a claim.’
Will my insurance go up if I report a scrape?
Rhydian Jones, from Confused.com answers: ‘When bumping another car, there’s a chance that your premium could go up even if you don’t make a claim on your insurance.
‘This is because any incidents could be seen as a potential risk by insurers.’
When should you report the incident?
Jones says: ‘You should report the accident as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours.’
How do you report an incident?
The Road Traffic Act tells you to report an accident to the police within 24 hours.
Dial 101, the non-emergency police number. Alternatively most police forces now have online portals where you can fill in a form and report an incident like this.
Don’t worry about this, just give an honest and accurate account of what happened as this will help if any insurance claims are made.
It also means you’re covered if anyone did see you or there was CCTV.
What details should I collect?
Once you’ve got out of your car and checked the damage make sure you take a lot of photos or videos.
Also note down any conditions or evidence – how the car was parked for example or low light conditions.
If the owner isn’t there and you can’t see anyone, leave a note on the windscreen with your contact details and take a photo of the note on the windscreen as proof.
And don’t forget to get their details – the licence plate number and car make and model, and name and number if the owner is present.
What if I hit a car but there’s no damage?
This is a bit of a grey area because if you’re sure there isn’t any damage then there’s no legal precedent to say you need to inform the owner, leave a note or report an incident as you’re not financially responsible.
But not all damage is visible and you might have missed something. So it could be a good idea to report the incident anyway and explain you didn’t see any damage but in the case of being an upstanding citizen you’re reporting it anyway.
Someone’s hit my car – what should I do?
On the flip side if someone hits your car then there’s a few steps you also need to take.
Stay with your car and take the other person’s details. If they aren’t there then check for a note.
Tell your insurance company, and file a claim if you think it’s necessary, but if it’s only a small scratch or bump it’s often easier (and kinder) to deal with it between the two parties.
If you arrive back to your car and find damage from someone bumping it and there’s no note then this is technically a hit and run crime.
Ask if anyone’s witnessed anything and file a report to the police who might be able to help with CCTV.
Tell your insurer as you might be able to claim on collision or Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) cover.
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